Semi-Retire from Model Railroading?

Many of us have already been through this Arnold, …..we grew up with model trains (at least a good number of us on here?? )  then high school, then girls, then marriage, & family, responsibilities, and the trains remained silent, ….until one day it clicked  again, and now the kids are grown, and we’re either in retirement, or nearing it, and the hobby & passion are re-kindled,…….semi-retired? …..h-e-double toothpicks, I’m just getting warmed up!…..😉

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Many of us have already been through this Arnold, …..we grew up with model trains (at least a good number of us on here?? )  then high school, then girls, then marriage, & family, responsibilities, and the trains remained silent, ….until one day it clicked  again, and now the kids are grown, and we’re either in retirement, or nearing it, and the hobby & passion are re-kindled,…….semi-retired? …..h-e-double toothpicks, I’m just getting warmed up!…..😉

Pat

Yes. Pat, but the twist in this topic is not to fully retire from one's life work, not to sell off all or most of one's trains, and not to stop doing model railroading, but rather semi-retire from the hobby by keeping all or most of one's trains until one's last breath, spending none or little money on trains, and spending less time doing model railroading and enjoying it even more.

I'll now give you a hint about why I'm semi-retiring from model railroading. The singer songwriter, Joni Mitchell, spent much of her time doing something she loved besides her music.

Arnold

Having just retired I don't see why I would want to slow down with this hobby. For once I have time to do things right instead of "good enough for now".

If it works for you however then go for it.

Arnold, my wife wouldn’t mind if I semi-retired from buying trains or running them so she wouldn’t have to turn the TV volume up!

John

I'm a seasonal railroaded for the most part. As winter sets in and I'm stuck indoors more often I run trains. The more I run trains the more it motivates me to work on scenery or add a siding to the layout. The one part of railroading that seems to never end is purchasing trains 😃

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I'll now give you a hint about why I'm semi-retiring from model railroading. The singer songwriter, Joni Mitchell, spent much of her time doing something she loved besides her music.

Arnold

Jeopardy style: What is painting?

@PRRick posted:

Jeopardy style: What is painting?

Either that or Arnold is moving to Canada

Arnold  - This is the first crazy thread I have seen you post.  Did you fall and whack your head ?

I think I may be semi-semi-retired.  I still buy a few new items each year, but it has to be something I really want.  This year I bought two traditional sized sets (when I found them on sale) and a few add-on cars (both were Disney sets - we're also Disney fans).  I've also found myself moving back to the traditional sized items in my "later" years (over 60) and away from the scale sized items (reverse from having traditional sized as a kid and then moving to scale sized in "mid-life").  So, now in a year I spend less on trains than I used to spend on purchasing just one high end engine.  I've even considered selling off some of the scale sized items that have been sitting in boxes on shelves for years and that I have no plans to run anytime soon.  I get the most pleasure setting up a "floor empire" and running a traditional sized GG1 with a set of 2400 sized passenger cars or maybe a PE sized Berkshire with a string of 6464 sized boxcars with the grandkids.

@bluelinec4 posted:

Either that or Arnold is moving to Canada

That's not it!

I fear our dear friend Arnold has left the reservation........ Or his train has left the station without a caboose.....

I'm with Pat @harmonyards on this one. I grew up with HO, had a large layout, took it apart and built a larger one until I graduated HS in 1980 and we moved. The usual distractions, girls, cars, school, more girls........ After getting married I always had a loop under the Christmas tree but no layout. Kids came along, daughter not interested but my son loved Thomas. We started buying him (ahem....OK me too ) the Tomy battery op engines with the blue plastic track. Had a lot of fun with them but I think I was having more fun than him.
Jump ahead a few years when my in-laws found a box of my father-in-law's old tinplate cars. That was late 2015.....no turning back now!

I get your point here Arnold. I could see a time in the future when the layout is done and just running trains  occasionally and surfing the forum, is enough to keep the fire box hot. Another great thought provoking thread.

Bob

@Bill Sherry posted:

Arnold  - This is the first crazy thread I have seen you post.  Did you fall and whack your head ?

That's not it either, LOL!

Ok, I'll give you folks another clue.

I love my trains, my layout, and this Forum, but now there is another activity I love more, but that activity, which I will keep as a mystery for now and will fully disclose later, dove-tails really nicely with model railroading, thereby enhancing creativity in both activities.

I'm not a collector and trains aren't an investment.   Any more than what fits on the layout is just crap I have to walk around.   Quit buying, sell the fluff, and run what's important to you.  

@RSJB18 posted:

I get your point here Arnold. I could see a time in the future when the layout is done and just running trains  occasionally and surfing the forum, is enough to keep the fire box hot. Another great thought provoking thread.

Bob

Bob, your getting warm, but that's not quite right.

Eventhough I'm spending almost no money on trains and much less time on model railroading, I love what I do in model railroading as much as I did before.

You see, I need to take breaks from the other mysterious activity that I love more, and model railroading is a very nice way to take those breaks.

Now, I know what you guys are probably thinking, and I want to be crystal clear that the other activity has nothing to do with my wife (I have the Perfect Wife IMO) or a girlfriend that I don't have. LOL.

One more thing, I also love to play golf with my 35 year old son, who hits the ball over the moon, but golf is not my mysterious activity that I'm crazy about doing at this time.

I will be fully disclosing the other activity soon, but not yet because I'm having so much fun with this. Arnold

Grandparenthood?  Or collecting barbed wire?

I know you love music.....taking up classical guitar????

Arnold,

I think that I subconsciously semi retired from model railroading when I fully retired from real railroading. Life became a lot easier (before the grandkids arrived) and by that time I had acquired enough stuff to begin construction of an imagined permanent layout. Many York meets later and e**y purchases have piled up in storage crates waiting to be run. Now that is beginning to happen... 18 years later! I have other vices too, but they are in check for now.................

If Arnold semi-retires from trains, the forum will be less interesting for some of us. I hope he doesn't do it.

As a semi-confidant of Arnold's, I do have an idea of what he's up to - but - color me skeptical about whether it actually happens. Especially the part about not buying any more trains...

As for myself, as time marches on, I'm less able to do some things that I once did, but I still can - and like to - do model trains. I've had certain interests since I was a youngster and have never gotten away from any of them. Although I was out of model railroading for almost four decades, the basic interest always remained. Nowadays, I still look forward to new releases of model locomotives that I can run and add to my collection. With two completed layouts in my basement, I'm sticking with the hobby, although my emphasis has changed from layout and model-building to running and photographing the layouts and posting on the OGR Forum. I still head down to the basement every day to check out the model trains - and over to the station every few days to see some of the real thing.

MELGAR

All hobbyist go through peaks and valleys.  I've been a ham operator for 55 years and there were times where my log book had zero contacts for a year, I was into other things, but eventually came back, and then on to something else.  Trains are the same way, you want to get something done and you work on it, test it, landscape it, and play, but then veer off into say, stationary live steam engines, or golf for those so inclined.  I thought I wanted to get into RC planes, but my hobby shop owning friend said I should go online and try some of the simulators.  For a month I used some very nice simulators and had  great time, finding out I did not want to go that route, but ended up with an RC cigarette style speedboat that I can run in my pond with my grandson, and we have a great time with it.  I have rotated between hamming, trains, motorcycles, small machine work with a Sherline setup, and model building for a long time, variety is the spice of life for me in this hobby area, but never golf.

Melgar is a good friend of mine. He and Alan Arnold know what my mysterious other activity is.

Now, it's time to disclose.

Drum roll please.

My other activity is:

Songwriting and performing my original songs at local Open Mics.

You folks can hear a few of my original songs by going on YouTube and clicking on the following video songs: Who Am I (Rollin' By), Earthrise, Oh Good Earth. The Deck and Collaboritve Country Lawyer.

I write songs, perform them, and have them arranged and recorded purely for fun, which is also why I do model railroading.

I have a couple of local train guy buddies that are also model railroaders and singer songwriters that I have connected with, and done Open Mics with, that have become great friends of mine.

Music and model railroading is a great combination IMO.

Alan Arnold knows about my interest in songwriting because that is how I first connected with him. When I told him over the phone about my video song about model railroading in November 2017, he told me about this Forum. Before then, I had no experience with chat rooms, on-line forums and the like, except for occasional visits to Facebook.

The rest is history.

Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted

You see, I need to take breaks from the other mysterious activity that I love more, and model railroading is a very nice way to take those breaks.

Another one of your interesting threads, counselor. Only I don’t quite understand the secrecy behind this “other mysterious activity” that you evidently love more. I too, have other activities I love more.

I’ve always been “semi-retired” from model railroading and simply find it more enjoyable when I don’t spend more than maybe 15 minutes on it at a time, which is usually just 3 or 4 times a week. Sometimes less.

My layout has been built out for 12 years and the only expenditures I have is when I trade up for newer motive power and rolling stock, which isn’t very often.

I like not being over immersed in model railroading, and making time for other activities. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. For me, think Fender pedal steel. 😉  

I didn’t see Arnold’s above post until after this one went up, so below is an ammendment.

Ah ha! So, a song writer/singer! I wish I were that creative and had a voice for singing. Good for you, Arnold! 👍

The lack of time to devote to the hobby is an interesting subject, and it dawned on me recently when I found two new engines from last year that I haven't even opened and test run. Shame on me, no excuses, yet when you're working for a living and trying to build a layout at the same time, there is a conundrum. In simple terms, building a layout is a HUGE project, actually a series of many projects that need to be aligned, assuming you ever want to get them to combine and have a finished section or scene. Fixing trains and finding gremlins in command systems also takes a HUGE amount of time.

Making time is a key of success in any venture, and Ben Franklin's old adage "if you want something done, ask a busy person" still holds true IMO. HOWEVER, the fact is, as I've grown older, and with the caveat of struggling the past couple of years with various health issues, just about everything takes longer to accomplish.

At this juncture, I choose to work on the layout and the scenery/buildings as that gives me satisfaction and enjoyment. I will run trains from time to time, mostly over the holidays.

If you're retired, this is not a fair question compared to those of us still working. I can only fantasize about retirement and great it must be

@MELGAR posted:

If Arnold semi-retires from trains, the forum will be less interesting for some of us. I hope he doesn't do it.

As a semi-confidant of Arnold's, I do have an idea of what he's up to - but - color me skeptical about whether it actually happens. Especially the part about not buying any more trains...

As for myself, as time marches on, I'm less able to do some things that I once did, but I still can - a like to - do model trains. I've had certain interests since I was a youngster and have never gotten away from any of them. Although I was out of model railroading for almost four decades, the basic interest always remained. Nowadays, I still look forward to new releases of model locomotives that I can run and add to my collection. With two completed layouts in my basement, I'm sticking with the hobby, although my emphasis has changed from layout and model-building to running and photographing the layouts and posting on the OGR Forum. I still head down to the basement every day to check out the model trains - and over to the station every few days to see some of the real thing.

MELGAR

MELGAR!!…..I couldn’t agree more!!….two lies all men tell about model railroading!….those that say they don’t do it, and those that swear they’re gonna quit!…but, hey, it’s his denial, let ‘em live in it!….🤣🤣🤣🤣

Pat

What really did it for me was 2 nights ago when my wife, daughter and 6 year old granddaughter were having dinner and I told her that her mom is a great singer, which is true. When my granddaughter replied that she wanted to be a songwriter, I nearly fell off my chair.

My daughter often plays CDs of my songs and sings along with the CDs in the presence of my granddaughter.

When I asked my daughter what my granddaughter's favorite song of mine is, she said it was one of the first songs I wrote in 1991 about love and death entitled Glory Born.

Again, I nearly fell off of my chair. Arnold

About 5 years ago, I decided to FULLY "retire" from model railroading. As I got older, my fingers didn't seem to do what I wanted them to do. Had to wear bifocals to work on ANYTHING. Finally, all the issues with the two different command control systems, was the final straw! After more than 60 years in the hobby, I had had enough. Sold everything and dismantled the entire layout.

I don't miss it at all, and if I want to watch model trains operate, I can always visit other friends layouts.

@Hot Water posted:

About 5 years ago, I decided to FULLY "retire" from model railroading. As I got older, my fingers didn't seem to do what I wanted them to do. Had to wear bifocals to work on ANYTHING. Finally, all the issues with the two different command control systems, was the final straw! After more than 60 years in the hobby, I had had enough. Sold everything and dismantled the entire layout.

I don't miss it at all, and if I want to watch model trains operate, I can always visit other friends layouts.

I’ll go ahead & say it, …..& I’ll take the lumps!…….QUITTER!!!!!!

Pat

@Hot Water posted:

About 5 years ago, I decided to FULLY "retire" from model railroading. As I got older, my fingers didn't seem to do what I wanted them to do. Had to wear bifocals to work on ANYTHING. Finally, all the issues with the two different command control systems, was the final straw! After more than 60 years in the hobby, I had had enough. Sold everything and dismantled the entire layout.

I don't miss it at all, and if I want to watch model trains operate, I can always visit other friends layouts.

@Hot Water,

I hope you found another interest to replace it?

MELGAR

Go for it Arnold!

30 years ago, while an M&A lawyer, I had a small rock band called Manny and the Rockets.  We played BB King's Club in Memphis!

I have been semi-retired from O gauge trains ever since I started 3 years ago.  Built it a little at a time, only worked on it when I felt like it, and I have never really run the trains from than about 2 hours a week, tops.

Mannyrock

SO I think you should come to Trainstock at the NJ HiRailers in January and our guy Sy will play the organ while you serenade the crowd

Wow! I can't wait for the new entertainment at Trainstock!

Arnold, how about combining both hobbies and write songs about model trains or full size trains?

@bluelinec4 posted:

SO I think you should come to Trainstock at the NJ HiRailers in January and our guy Sy will play the organ while you serenade the crowd

Awesome, would love to do that. I'll perform my model train song: Who Am I (Rollin' By), which you can access on YouTube. I will bring my guitar, amplifier and microphone. Oh what fun!

If Sy goes on YouTube, and hears the song on the video song, he might be able to play it. I have the lyric sheet and guitar chords I could email to him. Also, I might even have the sheet music that my arranger and studio key board player, Kinny Landrum, created for me. I'm almost sure I have that sheet music and then I can email it to you, Ben, and you can give it to Sy.

Later this weekend, I will private message you, Ben, about this, and we can exchange cell numbers and discuss thus further over the phone.

Arnold D. Cribari

I don’t view it as semi retired Arnold; it’s just another facet to your creative nature. If you haven’t already, I would imagine lyrics would arrive as your trains are humming.

Jay

@Hudson J1e posted:

Wow! I can't wait for the new entertainment at Trainstock!

Arnold, how about combining both hobbies and write songs about model trains or full size trains?

Phil and Jay, I already have, see my post above. Arnold

My apologies Arnold. I didn't know that. I am looking forward to your concert at Trainstock.

The Water Level Route.......You Can Sleep

NE-NC

====================

Yeah, that's just kind of weird.

I am backing off with most RR things. Part of it is simple "been there, done that". I also decided years ago to keep the command control situation as simple as possible: TMCC system. Almost no trouble in 30 years. That's it. I have some "reserve" CAB-1's and a backup command base. I do run PS2/3 using my Remote Commander, or just do analog.  Command control is great - wouldn't go back -  so long as it is used to control basic functions only. Past that, it's a burden as often as not.

@bluelinec4 posted:

SO I think you should come to Trainstock at the NJ HiRailers in January and our guy Sy will play the organ while you serenade the crowd

If Arnold is singing at Trainstock, I'm definitely coming!!!  

Well, as far as Arnold's comment that he's now going to run trains but "only do it when I'm in the mood to do it," I think most folks don't run trains when they're not in the mood to do it!   While cutting back on new purchases, I still make them, and it's a lot of fun. Often this also involves getting rid of something, kind of a revolving door thing to keep it fresh. I too have a ton of other interests, but manage to devote time to those I like the most, sometimes more to some than others of course, depending on what my current mood is. Switchhitting keeps it interesting. I'm certainly not anywhere close to the point where I feel my interest in trains has diminished to the point they're going on the back burner, and I doubt they ever will. They're still one of the things on the front burner, with the gas on.

Actually, I think Arnold's declaration that he's found an alluring new girlfiend in music is a ruse. Landsteiner nailed it - his new love is collecting barb wire.

FYI...I wrote this train song in 5 seconds using Chat GPT:

(Verse 1)
In a world of tiny tracks and whistles blow,
There's a joy that only model trains can show.
O-Gauge magic, rolling down the line,
In a world of wonder, where memories entwine.

(Pre-Chorus)
Gather 'round, friends, let the adventure start,
In the land of model trains, where dreams depart.
The engine's roar, the clickety-clack of the wheels,
It's the joy of O-Gauge, the excitement it reveals.

(Chorus)
Oh, the fun of operating O-Gauge delight,
Tiny locomotives racing through the night.
At the heart of the hobby, where passion aligns,
In the world of model trains, where happiness shines.

(Verse 2)
In the basement workshop or the living room,
Setting up the tracks, let the engines zoom.
Handcrafted landscapes, mountains tall,
A world in miniature, where memories install.

(Pre-Chorus)
Gather 'round, friends, let the adventure start,
In the land of model trains, where dreams depart.
The engine's roar, the clickety-clack of the wheels,
It's the joy of O-Gauge, the excitement it reveals.

(Chorus)
Oh, the fun of operating O-Gauge delight,
Tiny locomotives racing through the night.
At the heart of the hobby, where passion aligns,
In the world of model trains, where happiness shines.

(Bridge)
Now, let's talk about the shows we attend,
Where model train enthusiasts meet and blend.
Camaraderie and laughter, as we share the thrill,
At the train shows, time stands still.

(Verse 3)
The vendors' stalls with treasures to explore,
New cars, new tracks, and so much more.
The sound of steam, the smell of oil,
In the company of friends, our spirits coil.

(Pre-Chorus)
Gather 'round, friends, let the adventure start,
In the land of model trains, where dreams depart.
The engine's roar, the clickety-clack of the wheels,
It's the joy of O-Gauge, the excitement it reveals.

(Chorus)
Oh, the fun of operating O-Gauge delight,
Tiny locomotives racing through the night.
At the heart of the hobby, where passion aligns,
In the world of model trains, where happiness shines.

(Outro)
So here's to the joy that O-Gauge brings,
The laughter, the stories, the shared railings.
In the world of model trains, where friendships grow,
The magic of O-Gauge, forever on the go.